"Madrid want to sell, and Liverpool are willing to pay the £50m fee that Florentino Perez is asking for".

Sounds exciting, but is it genuine? According to Spanish pundit Guillem Balague, Klopp's interest is real. When asked on Monday if 'Liverpool are keen on James Rodriguez', Balague insisted:

"Of course they are. Liverpool are realistic, and they realise James is looking for a different type of team. He knows Real want to get rid of him. He has offers from England".

Perhaps one of these 'offers' is from Liverpool? Despite his fringe status at the Bernabeu, Rodriguez's goals/assists record is still fantastic:

* Madrid: 70 goals/assists in 102 apps (One every 96 mins)

* CL Record: 12 goals/assists in 33 apps (One every 194 mins)

* Colombia: 29 goals/assists in 52 apps (One every 150 mins)

Unless there's another collapse, Liverpool are well-placed to finish in the top four, and Champions League football means that - in theory - the Reds will have an increased chance of signing players like €70m-rated Rodriguez.

That said, Liverpool qualified for the Champions League in 2014, and it made zero difference to the club's ability to attract top-class players. Jurgen Klopp will change all that, though...right?